Posted on 01/07/2024 8:50:42 PM PST by nickcarraway
That is NOT a door plug. That is a door. Where a plug is installed you do not even know from the inside view of the aircraft because the plug uses a window and inside panel to make it appear as a "normal" window.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maLBGFYl9_o DOOR PLUG INFORMATION
There was some confusion during early reporting about what fell off the aircraft. It was door plug that is secured with 4 bolts. It is not suppose to "open" unless the bolts are removed. The plane can also have a deactivated door. Most of the hardware for the door is there, but is missing a few parts that make it usable. This option would be if the airline company thinks the seating for the plane is going to be reconfigured and requires the use of that exit.
Yes in this particular case (Alaska Airlines) you are correct...a 737 configured for 180 passengers or less doesn’t require the mid-rear cabin emergency exits and the emergency door is “plugged”, but when configured for more than 180 passengers the mid-rear cabin exits are required by the FAA as pictured in my post...just wanted to show what the plane looked like before they “panel over” a “plug”. Sorry about that. Certain Euro carriers configure their 737 jets for more than 180 pax and need the extra exits.
“Spirit Aerosystems” sub-contracts the plug work.
https://www.spiritaero.com/programs/commercial/commercial-programs/
If it were still out there...um, no.
It has been a while since I flew but, going through recurrent training for 28 years, every single Boeing I flew on had the overwind emergency exit doors that popped out without hinges. The forward and aft doors had hinges and were connected to the planes. I am confused how a ‘plug’ door would even work with an evac slide. They all ‘plug’ the aircraft but I am thinking they meant ‘plug’ as in like a cork, one that can be removed.
So, being just west of Portland is not in America and out of the NTSB jurisdiction
Why the secrecy, “Bob”?
Ya know, they were lucky that the door didn’t impact the horizontal or vertical stabilizer(s) on the way out or they’d still be looking for scraps of airplane and passenger body parts.
Thank you so much for that video, missnry. That is a very informative presentation.
To summarize for the typical Freeper that just reads headlines, this is a DOOR PLUG installed where there could be an emergency exit. Alaska chose the option to have the plug instead of the exit. This is not to be confused with a PLUG TYPE DOOR. They are not the same.
I now have a better grasp on the situation and can speculate, though I won’t share it here, what happened and what caused it.
EC
The New Gen, 700, 800, 900, Max have hinged gull wing exits.
Per the video from missnry, this was a DOOR PLUG, not a plug style door. Very informative.
EC
Ok.
You win.
Congratulations.
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